Office of Public Affairs

Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2013

UA Regents to take up 2014-2015 tuition, FY15 budget Wednesday

Media Advisory

The University of Alaska Board of Regents will vote on tuition rates and next year’s budget when it gathers Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2013, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Lee Gorsuch Commons on the University of Alaska Anchorage campus.

Members of the public may testify in person at approximately 9:15 a.m.

The board is expected to take action on a proposed $6 per credit increase for resident undergraduate (100-400 level) courses beginning in fall 2014. Resident graduate courses (500-600 level) would increase $12 per credit hour. The non-resident rate would increase $12 per credit hour. Even with the increase, the university would remain among the lowest of public institutions in the 15 Western states.

The board also will decide on the university system’s proposed FY15 operating and capital budget requests. The proposed operating budget would total $388 million in state general funds, with the university itself generating an additional $547 million from competitive federal research grants, tuition and fees, self-supporting auxiliary services, private donations and other sources.

The operating budget emphasizes student achievement and attainment; productive partnerships with Alaska schools; partnerships with public entities and private industries; and research and development to sustain Alaska’s communities and economic growth. These are the five themes of an ongoing effort across the UA System called Shaping Alaska’s Future.

The proposed capital budget, at $319 million in state general funds plus an additional $84 million in university generated revenue, once again puts deferred maintenance of existing facilities as UA’s No. 1 priority. The ongoing construction of the two engineering buildings at UAA and UAF; a major upgrade of the UAF combined heat and power plant; and research specific to Alaska round out the capital request.